Lawh-i-Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin I

What follows is my provisional translation (in other words, not official or authorized; see here for more) of a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh, the original text of which has been published in Majmú‘iy-i-Alváḥ-i-Mubárakih, pp. 337–38. While the addressee is not explicitly named anywhere in the Tablet, the Iranian Bahá’í scholar ‘Abdu’l-Ḥamíd Ishráq-Khávarí has identified him as Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín in Ganj-i-Sháygán, p. 180, item no. 23. 

He is the Almighty, the Ever-Abiding

That which is of paramount importance in this day is steadfastness in the Cause of God, for fiendish souls have manifested from every side and are scheming to the utmost to destroy the stronghold of the Cause. It is incumbent on every well-assured soul to seek refuge at all times with God, the Exalted One, that perchance they may be kept safe. It is, moreover, thy bounden duty to strive as much as thou canst to protect the Cause, lest the wicked prevail over the hosts of God. This utterance is mentioned in view of thine obligation; otherwise, the army of God hath been and shall continue to be victorious. Stand firm in the Cause and pay no heed to anyone. Rely thou on God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. O leaf of the Divine! Hold fast to this Tree, lest thou fall at the moment when the winds of sedition blow from every accursed plotter.

In these days, the Evil One summoneth in the Name of the Merciful; Sámirí crieth out the mention of “the Eternal” [Azalí], and the Devil is engaged in the most grievous deception.* Flee ye therefrom, O peoples of the earth, that haply ye may be sustained with the Presence of God.

God willing, Our hope is that, through His wondrous and imperishable favors, as well as His most glorious bounties, thou mayest not falter on the Path of the Cause, and repose instead within the shelter of the Lord’s protection. God speaketh the truth and showeth the way.

These few words were written with a broken pen.

The Spirit rest upon thee, and on whosoever is with thee, and also on the one named Karím by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise.

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* References to Mírzá Yaḥyá and Siyyid Muḥammad Iṣfahání.

A typescript of the original Persian and Arabic text of these passages appears below. 

﴿هو العزيز الباقي﴾

اليوم أعظم أُمور ثبوت بر أمر اللّه بوده و هست چه که شياطين از جميع اشطار ظاهر و بتمام مکر در تخريب حصن أمر مشغول * بر هر نفسی از نفوس مطمئنّه لازم که در کل أحيان پناه بخداوند متعال برند که شايد محفوظ مانند * بر آنجناب لازم است که بقدر قوّه در حفظ أمر سعی نمايند که مبادا فراعنه بر جنود إلهيّه غلبه نمايند * اين قول نظر بتکليف آنجناب ذکر ميشود و إلَا جند اللّه غالب بوده و خواهد بود * فاستقم علی الأمر و لا تلتفت الی أحد فتوکّل علی اللّه المهيمن القيّوم أن يا ورقةَ الأحديّه تمسّک بهذه الشّجرة لئلّا تسقطَ حين الّذی تهبّ أرياح النّفاق عن کلّ ماکر لعين * باری در اين أيّام شيطان باسم رحمن دعوت مينمايد و سامری بذکر أزلی ندا ميکند و إبليس بنهايت تلبيس مشغول گشته * ففرّوا عنه يا ملأ الأرض لعلّ أنتم بلقاء اللّه ترزقون * إن شاء اللّه اميدواريم که از بدايع ألطاف لا يزالی و عنايات ابهائی از صراط أمر نلغزی و در کنف عصمة اللّه مستريح شوی * و اللّه يقول الحقّ و هو يهدی السّبيل * باری اين چند کلمه با قلم شکسته مرقوم شد * و الرّوح عليک و علی من معک و علی الّذی سُمِّیَ بالکريم من لدن عزيز حکيم *